Monday, 7 January 2013

Rapid Refried Beans for Tacos

It seems quite right that tonight I have an easy recipe. I made it just before New Year's Eve when I was feeling ill but wanted some vegetables. We had taco shells in the pantry and I needed just part of a tin of beans for our traditional New Years's Eve of Haggis Nachos and the Edinburgh Tattoo on the telly. (Actually for a change we were planning to go to a quiet party but we were poorly.) I remembered a recipe for Rapid Refried Beans that I had eaten many years ago. It was quick and healthy.

E helped me chop up the vegies and dinner was done in under 30 minutes. That is fast work in our house. By then I was tired and ready for food. We should have tacos more often. So quick and yummy.

Tonight was a dinner that required little energy too. I foolishly decided to head to Northland shopping centre to beat the heat and do a wee bit of shopping this afternoon. On the way home someone ahead braked hard, someone behind didn't stop in time and banged into the back of my car and pushed me into the car in front. It was just what I don't need right now. (Though I am not sure when anyone needs a car accident.) Fortunately Sylvia and I walked away unharmed, albeit slightly shaken by the bang.

I am still trying to get my house into shape after Christmas and our Scotland trip. The Christmas tree has been put out but I am still gathering all our Christmas stuff into storage. The one good thing about not having a car right now is that I got a great book (Jon and Jack Faine's From Here to There) for Christmas. I will look forward to reading some of it on public transport. In fact I am looking forward to going to bed and reading it right now.

Fry onion and garlic in oil until cooked. Add capsicum, spices and seasonings and gently cook until softened. Add kidney beans and tomato paste. Warm though, remove from heat and lightly mash with potato masher or a fork. Great with tacos. Alison Holst also suggests this makes a great base for nachos.

On the Stereo:Music for Burns Night (Scotland on Sunday freebie - 2010) - Various Artists

8 comments:

That's a good looking recipe! Sorry to hear about your accident, catching public transport in summer is something I try to avoid so you have my sympathy. I was at Northland on Friday evening trying to beat the heat too :)

Sounds like the perfect quick dinner. And whoah on the car accident! So glad no one was harmed. I had a similar experience a few years ago at a stop light--ambulance was coming up from behind and the woman in front of me slammed on the brakes; so did I; but the 20-something behind me had her ipod on (earplugs in ears) and didn't hear it in time, so slammed into me from behind. My car, in the middle, got totalled, while the other 2 were fine!! Gah. They should outlaw any kind of earplugs/phones while driving. Anyway, I think I know what we're having for dinner tonight! ;-)

I'm so sorry about your car crash :( I had someone drive in to the back of my car a few years back and it was awful - I cringed at traffic lights for days afterwards, thinking it would happen again. I hope you're both ok and the car is too?

This sounds like a great dinner and I have actually never made refried beans! Terrible! I will have to give this recipe a go.

I'm so sorry to hear about your car accident Johanna! I hope the repairs are carried out promptly!

We are huge fans of refried beans, they have become almost mandatory when we have Mexican and they pair so well with other Mexican foods. Home made ones are so much nicer than the pre-made refried beans in a tin.

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Recipes and reflections in which our vegetarian heroine dreams of being tall and graceful as a giraffe; being a goddess in the kitchen; and being gladdened by green gadgets, green food and green politics because green is the colour of hope. See About Me for more info.